Visit to Sick Kids a highlight for the Leafs

The Maple Leafs conducted their annual team visit to the Hospital for Sick Children on Monday afternoon, an outing that they are more than happy to make.

“This day is always circled on the calendar pretty early on when you find out you’re going to do it,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “It’s a good chance to spend a day around some kids who aren’t having the best health at the moment. Going there and being a part of their day is fun. It’s a good thing that we do.”

For coach Mike Babcock and the players, giving back to the community, especially when it involves children who face daily health challenges, is paramount.

“I think it’s important when you are blessed to play in the National Hockey League and you get a little notoriety, and then you have a chance to make other people’s lives better, I think you should,” Babcock said.

“It’s a great day for our players, a great day for the staff there. The staff there … it’s a place you should go see one time and just see the magic that happens. It’s an absolute magical place with magical people and it makes you feel great to go there.”

The visit included players and kids playing video games with each other, as well the Leafs taking the time to meet some of the young patients and listen to their stories.

“It’s something that hits home and it’s an honour to go and see them and spend some time with them and hopefully brighten their day,” forward Connor Brown said.

RING OF TRUTH

Ron Hainsey had not yet received official confirmation, but the Leafs defenceman expected he will be presented with his 2017 Stanley Cup ring at some point when the Leafs visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

“It would be great,” Hainsey said. “It’s hard to believe it’s almost six months coming up since the middle of June (when Hainsey and the Penguins beat the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on June 11 to win the Cup).

“It went by quick. From the end of February (when the Carolina Hurricanes traded him to Pittsburgh) to now, it has been a fast nine months. I haven’t been sitting around thinking about going back because we’ve been so busy, but it will be great to see everyone.”

Though Hainsey was a teammate of Sidney Crosby for just a few months, the Penguins captain’s work ethic rubbed off.

“It was tremendous, the whole group,” Hainsey said. “He sets the tone. He has set the tone for the league for 12 years, or whatever it is. Certainly, it was great to be a part of that for that stretch.”

SMALL TASTE OF HOME

When the Leafs play host to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, it will mark one of three home dates for Toronto in the month of December, compared to 10 on the road.

In 13 home games in 2017-18, the Leafs hold a record of 8-5-0.

“Sometimes you get a little cuter at home and cute doesn’t lead to winning a whole lot of hockey games,” Babcock said. “We have to do a better job here at home, getting ourselves re-established. We should be a dominant, dominant home team.”

The Leafs’ schedule in January is the opposite, more or less, as they play eight games at home and four on the road.

LOOSE LEAFS

The subtleties of Hainsey’s game in the defensive zone bring applause from goaltender Frederik Andersen. “He does a lot of smart, small plays,” Andersen said. “Little plays that (make Andersen’s job easier). He’ll get a stick on a pass or make a little chip for a good breakout. He’s a great guy to have and he has elevated Morgan’s play too.” … In the Flames’ lone visit to Toronto last season, Andersen made 26 saves and Mitch Marner scored the winning goal in a 4-0 Leafs win on Jan. 23.